Washington (CNN) – The Republicans got their "groove back" after the Democrats began to get "cracks in their foundation" following a year and a half of governing, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday in a highly-partisan speech at the Young Republicans Leadership Conference.

The Kentucky Republican said the "Democrats were flying high" in 2009 when President Obama was inaugurated and that "the American people were eager to see their plan for addressing the nation's problems."

Meanwhile, McConnell said his party was portrayed as "beaten down, demoralized, and despondent." He said Republicans "were more likely to be a late night punch line than a relevant part of Obama's Washington."

McConnell cited what he considered "cracks in [the Democrats'] foundation." He said the stimulus package was "shoved down the throats of the American people," the Democrats introduced a budget "that doubled the debt in 5 years and tripled it in 10," and also a health care bill, that "will bring us higher, not lower health care costs."

It's a message that Democrats disagree with. Speaking Thursday in Michigan, President Obama offered a preview of the Democratic message for the midterm election, saying it is "absolutely clear" the nation's economy is headed in the right direction, and that "the surest way out of the storms we've been in is to keep moving forward, not to go backward."

"There are some folks who want to go back - who think we should return to the policies that led to the recession," Obama said of Republican critics, accusing them of choosing political obstruction over working with Democrats for solutions.

But McConnell made the argument that the GOP began to rebound after losing the 2008 presidential election by looking outside Washington to find its voice.

"We shared your frustration. And we girded for the fight, confident that we had supporters behind us. We broke out of the Washington echo chamber and fought the government-driven solutions that Democrats were proposing. We got our groove back," said McConnell.

McConnell said today, just over a year and half after the Democrats took over Washington, "Americans have lost faith in the Democrat Leadership and in government period."

"We needed jobs, and they gave us a trillion dollar boondoggle they call a Stimulus. We needed lower health care costs, and we got a 2,000 page bill that's expected to increase them. We wanted to put an end the idea that some companies are too big to fail. Today they're trying to pass a bill that institutionalizes it. Arizona needed the federal government to secure its border. They got named in a federal lawsuit," said McConnell.

soundoff(102 Responses)

Ken in NC

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying the GOP had found it's groove is a misprint. He was trying to say the GOP has found it's grave. They are in bed with every business, Wall Street, Big Oil, Health Care Industry, Big Banks and Ultra Rich People to name a few. They are all hellbent on making the "SMALL PEOPLE" smaller.

July 15, 2010 06:55 pm at 6:55 pm |

Moderate Sean

His true ignorance here says it all! They have their 'groove back', eh? Haha, okaayyy!!!

July 15, 2010 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

DannyCali

Anyway your Republican still the Party of "NO" and it still "NO" jobs "NO" leadership "NO" controlling the House and Senate next year.

July 15, 2010 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

Earl Fey

Just stay in the groove. It leads to NOware

July 15, 2010 07:11 pm at 7:11 pm |

hobart

Yes, Mitch, you found your groove, which is lying, filibustering, obstructing, distracting the country with the birthers, threats of secession, racist epithets, death threats, machine guns at political rallies, blaming all that's wrong with society on Latinos, attempts to blow up people's houses, the list goes on and on.

We all had to play by Republican rules for 8 years and what did YOU give us? Economic ruin and collapse, the loss of 8 million jobs, lost homes, lost life savings, lost health insurance and environmental destruction of the Gulf of Mexico. And what is the Republican response? Do nothing, obstruct everything, and above all, blame it on Democrats.

Well Mitch, we're on to you, and we're not as stupid as you think we are. Do tell us, Micth, why do you and your fellow Republicans hate America?

Ditch Mitch!

July 15, 2010 07:12 pm at 7:12 pm |

Fed Up!

Sounds like Mitch McConnell has been smoking some of that Kentucky Blue Grass.

Most American voters still see the GOP as the party of Wall Street, Big Oil, special interests and intolerance for different opinions.

July 15, 2010 07:12 pm at 7:12 pm |

Tom, Vermilion, Ohio

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is a major reason why the GOP and this country is such a train wreck. He needs to step down, retire, resign and/or be removed from office. He needs psychological counseling and possibly medication to somehow counter his delusional-maniacal tendencies. His delusions of grandeur need some attention as well. Hopefully, his condition can be contained and is not contagious. The GOP has enough problems to deal with.

July 15, 2010 07:13 pm at 7:13 pm |

drea

Does he even know what a groove is? Everytime I see his face , he looks constipated or full of gas or something. Groove on Mitch and good luck with that.

July 15, 2010 07:13 pm at 7:13 pm |

Patsy, Texas

Here we go again. Criticism with no solutions. Here's a news flash
for Tweedle Dee(Boehner) and Tweedle Dumb(McConnell): You
are still irrelevant in AMERICA"S Washington.

July 15, 2010 07:13 pm at 7:13 pm |

lforlegend

The repugs are a sorry bunch with a terroristic mentality who love to see people struggle and suffer. Shame on the whole bunch of them for their want for this country to regress.

July 15, 2010 07:17 pm at 7:17 pm |

Lou from CT

Hey Mitch McConnell – what legislation have the Republicans helped the Democrats with in this 2 years? NONE! Why? Because everything that is proposed, your party just kicks its feet and says, "NO NO NO"!

The people have given you an opportunity to stand with Democrats to advance legislation to help Americans who cannot find work. What does your party do? Kicks its feet and says, "NO NO NO"!

When you and your party comes up with a piece of legislation that helps those of us who are trying to find work stay on our feet and pay what bills we can, you call me.

In the meantime Mitch McConnell:

Don't go away mad, just go away!

July 15, 2010 07:19 pm at 7:19 pm |

Kahuna

Yep, the GOP found what works best for them. Lie. Lie some more. Tell more lies to cover your lies. When someone uncovers your lies, tell lies about them. When not lying, they;re busy stabbing the president and America in the back.

All this so they can regain the power that they believe God wants them to have.

July 15, 2010 07:20 pm at 7:20 pm |

emma

Interesting how perceptions are at odds with each other. The Democrats have made a difference but have had tremendous opposition in efforts to remedy the outcomes of unbridled, untamed capitalist greed which was in place before 2008. McConnell seems to respond to a need to cheer up the Republicans.

July 15, 2010 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

RTB

What a pile of crap.

McConnell is still the the loser he has been.

When it comes election time, the American voter will let the Republican Party know in no uncertain terms that going backwards is ridiculous.

This administration has brought the country out of a bleak situation that was created by the Republican policies.

McConnell is smoking some weird stuff.

July 15, 2010 07:28 pm at 7:28 pm |

Sgt. USMC

settle down stella... you are still a lying hypocrite... a dirtbag.

July 15, 2010 07:29 pm at 7:29 pm |

oy vey az

GOP "groove", as in dig the top off of any little scab?
Or, the "groove" worn in lies played over and over again?
Or do you mean the unrelenting social "groove" tearing America apart?

They never lost their groove. It's the one with the shreds of toilet paper stuck in it.

July 15, 2010 07:37 pm at 7:37 pm |

GaryOwen27

Republican.....the party of NO ideas has their "groove back"?????

If that is true, it would spell disaster for the good old US of A.

July 15, 2010 07:47 pm at 7:47 pm |

Victim of GOP Taliban

According to whom, Faux News? Last time I checked the Republicans in Congress polled significantly less than the Dem's. McDeadbeat and his pals are still the Greedy OLD Party , with no ideas and only interested in keeping everything the same for the highest lobbyists $ bidder.

Whom you fooling Mitch? You can't even get along with your state's Senator yet alone know how to lead.

July 15, 2010 07:51 pm at 7:51 pm |

Gary Jaussaud

Gary's comment is:

Ok, the GOP says it has it's groove back, that's great, now what, I have
yet to hear a word out of anyone in the GOP that has an idea how to
fix the problems they say President Obama has caused, they love to
say "No" to everything and anything, because they can, but not a word
on just what they would do, or how they would handle the same problem. I almost hope they take over both houses of congress and
then lets just see what they do, and may God help the working guy like
me.

July 15, 2010 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

George of the jungle

the only groove they have is the one that runs down the middle of their heads. No Ideas No co operation No help from this group of unpatriotic hate mongers

July 15, 2010 07:57 pm at 7:57 pm |

Marty, FL

McConnell can continue his empty rhetoric if he chooses, but in reality, the Dems at least have been addressing our nation's issues–finance reform, health care, recovery, tax cuts for 95% Americans/small businesses, etc.

What has McConnell & his GOP obstructionists done? Nothing and No foundation for ideas of cooperative governance. The choice is clear this election...

July 15, 2010 07:59 pm at 7:59 pm |

WAW

McConnell (nor his House counterpart) do not speak for the "American People" because GOP has "looked outside Washington to find its voice". They have found it in the Corporate headquarters on Wall Street, of Insurance Companies, of Oil and Energy Companies. Obviously, McConnell has forgotten teachers being laid off, people without jobs for months, families who have or are about to loose their homes. The Republican spin machine has been working overtime and that is the only thing the Republican Party has working, it certainly has done NOTHING in Washington since it failed to come through on Newt's Contract for America. And before the next legislation passes Congress, McConnell should be reminded that the last Bush / Republican bill to pass was a 3 page little ditty called TARP to bailout their Wall Street bosses (makes any 2000 page document seem down right smart). The midterms are in process and hopefully the American People will again speak and say NO Way to the GOP.